Ramanayake Arachchige Don Ravindu Dilhan Ramanayake vs. Danasooriya Arachilage Prageeth Danasooriya, Divisional Secretary, Nuwara-Eliya – CA WRT 0021/24-2025

In the case between Ramanayake Arachchige Don Ravindu Dilhan Ramanayake (petitioner) and Danasooriya Arachilage Prageeth Danasooriya, Ekanayake Mudiyanselage Dammika Ekanayake, and others (respondents), the Court addressed whether the failure of the Divisional Secretary to register a valid nomination of successors under the Land Development Ordinance, due to administrative oversight, can be remedied by a writ of mandamus. It was held that the Divisional Secretary is mandated to register such a nomination promptly and the petitioner’s rights should not be prejudiced due to administrative error. The decision, grounded in Sections 49, 56, 58, and 60 of the Land Development Ordinance and established case law, reaffirmed the principle that public officers must perform their statutory duties dil